New Year’s Resolutions

I know it’s February, just bear with me! A couple of days into January, I was flipping through the radio and an annoying DJ was prattling that she had made a resolution to lose weight and then ate something yesterday that made her give up on everything. I rolled my eyes and flipped to another station but have been thinking about that. We make resolutions in the first place because we realize that making some changes in our lives could potentially make us healthier or happier, but there is a big difference between a WISH and a RESOLUTION. A wish is, “I should lose weight, I’m totally gonna do that this year!” and that’s far different from a resolution, which needs to be an ongoing process maybe involving multiple steps and, potentially, a commitment to a different way of living. If, for example, you decide to make a change for your health, like starting a walking program, and then it snows so you stay inside, your resolve to get back outside tomorrow and continue is what makes for a resolution instead of a wish.

I’m saying all this because my resolution was to add more yoga to my fitness routine, which got completely derailed by an injury. I injured my foot and the subsequent changes to how I walked started giving me back pain and everything is off track now. Even though I’m required to rest right now, rather than just giving up on my goal, I’m eagerly awaiting the day I’ll be able to get back to it.

Dolls don’t have to let pain or weather or distractions deter them from their goals, though! What about choosing a doll and dressing or accessorizing them as a reminder of something you’re aspiring toward? A smock and paintbrush if you need a reminder to practice your art skills, an ethnic costume for a foreign language you’re learning, or in my case, a yoga outfit to remind me I WILL get back to it!

My reminder is:

Pants with this cuff detail were all over my pinterest searches for a while, (anyone else hate promoted pins?) but I thought they would be great for yoga. You might have other ideas for them, like gardening pants to remind you the snow will melt eventually and you can get outside again, or make all the different pieces from different quilting fabrics to remind you of that complicated quilt you’re working on piecing. Share your “resolution outfit” here! This pattern will fit 16” dolls like Girl for All Time.

Some other things I’ve been up to include BOY CLOTHES! This pattern will fit AG size boys and includes variations to make all the shirts you see here. It should cover any button-up shirt need you have for boys, and of course, works for girls too! There are options for a casual collar version or a dressier stand collar and variations for straight or curved hems. Several sleeve options are included for plain or dressy, cuffed or hemmed, short or long. What can you do with this pattern?

By request, the Lederhosen were resized for AG. You know I’m all about versatility, and if you’re thinking they only work for German folk costumes, I invite you to think outside the box. A number of European folk costumes for boys use this kind of pants or something similar, because many folk costumes were variations of “regular” clothing available in the 18th century. For that matter, try them as part of a historical ensemble for Felicity’s time. Paired with a very full shirt (that I might be talked into making a pattern for if anyone is interested..?) that outfit could work for a fairly wide historical range.

What? The SSA already?

Well, it’s “only” about 3 months away! Yes, I already have some ideas, but as in the past few years I’d like to get your input! For newer followers, the SSA is the Summer Sew-Along, where we have a variety of patterns on a theme and everyone shares pix of their creations and there’s usually a bonus pattern as a prize if you finish everything!

I’m focusing on AGAT dolls this year, that’s not up for debate, so don’t even try 😉 Depending on the fit of the patterns it may not be too hard to resize them and if that works out, there will be directions to do that or maybe a separate set of pattern sizes available on etsy.

The SSA originally started with a mix-match wardrobe, and although that’s not stayed the case, it might be fun to get back to something like that this year. There are a couple of options that are historical because these dolls just look so good in period clothing.

There’s also a vote for the timing, because some people would like to get their sewing done in May to either avoid vacation time or have a summer-ready wardrobe, while others would like something to do while stuck in the house with the AC on once it gets warmer.

The first option is an Edwardian wardrobe with outfits and possibly some accessories appropriate for different activities an Edwardian girl might have engaged in during summer

The second option is a modern (possibly mix-match) wardrobe for spring/summer

The third option is a complete, upper-class Tudor/Elizabethan outfit including all components from undergarments to outer dress, shoes and cap. These patterns would be as authentic and detailed as I can make them for their size, so suitable for intermediate seamstresses and above.

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Glad you a doing AGFAT for your Summer Sew Along, I make Waldorf inspired dolls and have made a doll pattern so they are the same measurements as AGFAT. I’ve just been making 1960s inspired clothes for a new doll – I plan to make the iconic black and white block A-line dress. That is why I chose the ‘modern’ category in your poll – modern being 1960s!
Looking forward to it
Susie x

It’s great to read you, Jenny! I’m sorry for your foot injury, Hopefully you are back to yoga soon, It will help rebalance your body and ease your back pain (it solved a lot of little problems for me).

Thank you so much for those new patterns! I’m loving the boy outfit with the lumberjack style jacket! It looks really great!

I do not own an AGAT doll, but I’ll be followin the SSA, maybe trying to resize it for the 13″ dolls or the Gotz Hannay dolls. I voted for the Tudor Era outfit beause I think it is simply a beautiful style of clothing!

AGAT resizes fairly easily for Wellie Wishers, and the bodices will work for other slim dolls too. I need one of those Gotz happy kids dolls, it seems like they pose beautifully. and could share clothes.

What cute yoga pants, Jen – thank you so much for these, as my 16-inch dolls are too often ignored! Looking forward to the 2018 SSA as summer will be here before we know it! ;’) LOVE the boy’s shirt pattern and all it’s options too, so will have to add that to my pattern collection. Hope you’re all healed up and doing well soon.

I do have high hopes for the Edwardian Fashion for our Summer Challenge. I also love that it is for A Girl For All Time. The Edwardian time also is presented in the first few episodes of Downton Abbey and they all wore lovely things. Hmm I wonder if there will be a Sherlock Holmes outfit. He was very active during WWI. I went to the site to order the sheep set but oh my the shipping was the same price I would pay for the sheep set so I removed it from the cart. Hopefully they will have a special on shipping. Wow 25.00 dollars was the cheapest rate from Canada to the US. That is more than I pay for shipping from Great Britain.

I did talk with Maplelea about the high postage and that is simply the way it is for Canada. She explained it is also very high for them to get something from the States too. The sheep set is very cute. I got the idea to check on Amazon and they have all the products there. The sheep and goat set was 30.00 with free Prime shipping. Yeah I bought them and I am so looking forward to seeing them. My family are all In North Wales, Great Britain and every Spring the Snowden is dotted with baby lambs. I love visiting in the Spring because of all the baby lambs. Pure joy.

You always come up with the cutest, nicely finished things! I would like to put in a request for that FULL shirt, we like Ren Faires and it would be so fun! And love the neat finish on the yoga pants, I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Incidentally, you make a very good point about the difference between wishes and resolutions. Take good czre of your foot and back so you can safely keep yours. Dana

I love how you described a “New Years Resolution” Ever since I was very young it was a tradition in our family to make a resolution for New Years and every year I make a resolution to do something that makes me happy. This year it is making doll clothing for my doll collection. I have many Sasha’s and am hoping I can use the AGAT patterns for my dolls. I am new to your site and really enjoying all the different clothing you make for so many different dolls too. Thank you for this. looking forward to your SSA…. Best regards, Linda